Kid power! Adults need not apply - Kidpreneurship Conference - Black Enterprise Kidpreneurs Conference - Brief Article

Black Enterprise, April, 2002 by Kenneth Meeks

Your child doesn't have to be a wonder o benefit from the Black Enterprise Kidpreneurs Conference, but if you want him or her to become one of tomorrow's leading business owners, register for this year's conference and give your child a head start. Our goal is to surround children with positive role models who can contribute something tangible to his or her learning experience.

Last year's Kidpreneurs Award winner, Christian E. Diggs, is a good example of the type of role models who attend the event. Diggs is not only a winner but also a bona fide leader. At 19, he is chairman, CEO, and president of SandoteWebsites.com, a company that helps small businesses develop e-commerce capabilities.

"The Internet is the future of business, the present epitome of direct marketing and sales," Diggs explains. "We provide a complete solution to every client's e-business, and this includes good search engine ranking, media coverage, and developing an overall strategy for the Website."

Diggs isn't your typical teenager, and his isn't your everyday coming-of-age story. In 1997, while still in high school, Diggs launched SandoteWebsites.com. The company generated $17,000 after 24 months. In 2000, SandoteWebsites grossed roughly $65,000, and by 2001, it had seven employees and was servicing 165 clients.

By using the resources available at our Kidpreneurs Conference, your child could follow in Diggs' footsteps. We invite you and your family to the Seventh Annual Kidpreneurs Conference, which is concurrent with the Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference. Both events are May 15 to 19, at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.

Kidpreneurs promises to be an innovative three-day program committed to developing the entrepreneurial potential of our young people.

BLACK ENTERPRISE can help your child learn the fundamentals for creating, operating, and maintaining a business at any age. Kidpreneurs gives young people a step-by-step approach to business management, offering four levels of instruction: Future CEOs (ages 14 to 18); Junior Executives (ages 11 to 13); Futurepreneurs (ages 7 to 10); and Weepreneurs (ages 4 to 6). Our Weepreneurs program is a fun-filled day that allows young children to learn through play. Young achievers will learn to develop a business plan; set goals and achieve them; understand investing and saving; talk to some of our nation's successful black entrepreneurs; develop leadership skills; and collaborate on projects.

"We're expecting an exciting second year in Nashville, and will continue to provide a quality educational experience for the attendees," says Melvin Crenshaw, product manager for the Kidpreneurs Conference.

Register early. The cost is $250. Additional childcare services are available through Opryland Hotel. Kidpreneurs registrants are not permitted to attend evening functions.

For more information, log on to www.blackenterprise.com. Due to classroom size group registration is limited.

Black Enterprise Unlimited is a division of Earl G. Graves Ltd. dedicated to the creation of products and services designed to meet your business needs. We can be contacted at B.E. Unlimited, 130 Fifth Ave., New York, New York 10011-4399; fax: 212-886-9509; e-mail: BEunlim@blackenterprise.com. The following is contact information to help you learn more about the programs and products of B.E. Unlimited:

BLACKENTERPRISE.COM

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BLACK ENTERPRISE/MICROSOFT ENTREPRENEURS CONFERENCE

For more information on the 2002 Entrepreneurs Conference, May 15-19, 2002, at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, call 800-543-6786.

BLACK ENTERPRISE/PEPSI GOLF & TENNIS CHALLENGE

For more information on the 2002 Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge, August 29 to September 2, at the La Quinta Resort & Club in Palm Springs, California, call 800-598-3828 or visit our Website.